Editor:
I just wanted to recognize David Roberts' article in Friday's paper. I would like to personally thank him for standing up for what he believes.
Many are not able or willing to take a stand like that on such a sensitive issue as homosexuality. I know that he will no doubt take a lot of heat over such an article, but he should know that he is by no means alone in his views. Regardless of a person's beliefs about whether homosexuality is genetic or a choice, one cannot deny that he looked at it from several angles and came to the same conclusion. Thank you Roberts for standing your ground, I wish more people would.
Ryan Claborn
arts and sciences sophomore
Editor:
I found David Roberts' article, "Myths of innate homosexuality put to rest," disheartening and insulting. As a teaching assistant, I want my students to understand what makes an argument effective, but my job is more difficult when they cannot locate strong examples in one of their most immediate sources of information.
Although I encourage public presentations and exchanges of controversial material, I expect a certain level of professionalism and respect for an audience within published forums. Whether he intended to or not, Roberts insulted the intelligence of his readers in presuming to have answers for which he provides no substantial support or evidence of authority.
It was further insult to see that the standards of publication were grossly unenforced. I urge you to be more diligent in your scrutiny of submitted material.
Stephen Slaughter
English graduate student
and teaching assistant
Editor:
Thanks so much for your April 8 editorial that puts the Graves bill in proper perspective. My letter is addressing David Roberts' April 17th article.
As a mother of a gay child, I know that when my child said they felt different since childhood, then it was not something they "chose." You are right, Roberts, why would they?
The redeeming part of the Bible is when Jesus entered the picture. He did not say anything about homosexuality. He and God love all of creation. Jesus came to break the law and old biases with love and compassion. Why don't we take his example and love everyone for the wonderful gifts and talents they have to offer? Why can't we honor every person's spirituality?
I want all my children to have dreams that can come true, to laugh and to have life.
Lucy Wilkes
vice president of Stillwater's Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays
Editor:
This letter is a response to the column written by David Roberts on April 17. You obviously did not do a thorough job of researching the biological origins of homosexuality.
Baily and Pillard (1991) showed that the more genetics are shared between two relatives, the more likely their sexual orientation will be the same. Hamer et al. (1993) discovered that a gene on the X chromosome has an effect on whether a person is gay or not.
Several animal studies show that hormone levels in the womb affect sexual orientation (Ellis and Ames, 1987; Adkins-Regan, 1988; Baum et al., 1990). A study by LeVay (1991) found a physiological difference in the hypothalamus of the brains of heterosexual and homosexual males. I would suggest Roberts, that before you go refuting scientific evidence you go out and read it first.
Chad Neal
psychology senior
Editor:
The only statement in David Roberts' April 17 column on homosexuality I can agree with is his conclusion: "There's a lot of garbage out there." Roberts' comments alone could fill a dumpster.
Especially absurd is the argument that homosexuality isn't genetic because homosexuals can't reproduce, and the gene would have died out by now. Like all genes that define the characteristics of offspring, the "gay gene" is passed down by parents who carry the gene. Most parents are heterosexual.
The real "experts" in any debate on this issue are homosexual people themselves. They will tell you almost without exception that a person's sexual orientation is a natural part of who they are and it can't be changed.
Roberts' irrational and ill-informed arguments only serve to justify his bigotry.
Lana Stone
President of Stillwater Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays